Blood Mountain, located in the high peaks region of the North Georgia mountains, is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Peach State. Partly this is due to the fact that the summit is concurrently the sixth highest peak in the state and the highest mountain along the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail. More so, its popularity is due to the expansive rock ledges, located just below the summit, which offer what most forested peaks of the region don't...spectacularly expansive panoramic views. On top of all that, Blood Mountain is relatively easy to visit. A short mile-and-a-half hike combined with a vigorous (but not overwhelming) 1,400' climb will take you to the top. Thus, it's a mountain who comes by its popularity honestly.

The name Blood Mountain, in case you were wondering as I was, comes according to legend from local Native Americans regarding a great long-ago battle which took place atop the mountain between warring members of the Creeks and Cherokees. The battle was so ferocious, and took the lives of so many warriors, it is said that the slopes of the mountain and the waters of surrounding streams were stained red with their blood. As I stated, this origin story is legend, but as far as I'm concerned its about as cool an origin story as any for naming a mountain so there you go.

My plan for the day was not to just make the quick 1.5-mile run to the summit and back but rather extend my visit out a bit by making the climb of Blood Mountain the centerpiece of a nice 6-ish mile loop. I'd begin from the extremely popular trailhead at Neals Gap, starting my ascent by way of the Byron Herbert Reece Trail. The BRHT ascends gently at first from the parking lot but soon steepens as it starts the climb of the ridge. At around the 3/4-mile mark I'd make a turn onto the Appalachian Trail from the remaining mile-or-so hike to the summit. After getting my fill of the scenery up top I'd then continue on along the Appalachian Trail for another mile-and-a-quarter before making an eastward turn on the more lightly used Freeman Trail which I'd than follow for two miles before reaching the BHRT once again and returning to my car.

Overall I found this to be a very enjoyable hike. The crowds detracted from my enjoyment a bit but I had been previously warned, and chose to go anyway, so I can't really count that against the experience as a whole. The trails are wonderfully well-maintained and well-marked and the scenery was all that it was advertised to be. It was a fantastic place to spend an afternoon on the trail. So, without further adieu, I present to you my hike of Georgia's famous Blood Mountain...as always, ENJOY!!!

Blood Mountain, GA (10-1-16)

My trek as recorded by my Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Blood Mountain Loop Route Map

My trek as recorded by my Gaia GPS app...

Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead

I had been warned that this trailhead was busy but WOW...arrived at 10 am and I believe I squeezed into the last available parking spot...

Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead

The trailhead and kiosk at the hikers parking lot...

Blood Mountain Wilderness

Immediately after stepping onto the trail a faded wooden sign announced I was entering a wilderness, though it didn't feel very wilderness-y this day...

Byron Herbert Reece Trail

Things started out tame enough...

Byron Herbert Reece Trail

It wasn't long though before the trail turned and attacked the neighboring hillside...

Byron Herbert Reece Trail

Steeper sections sported crude rock steps...

Byron Herbert Reece Trail

Passing an impressively large solitary rhododendron...

Late Purple Aster

Symphyotrichum patens

Byron Herbert Reece-Appalachian-Freeman Trail Junction

Around three-quarters of a mile in the BHRT reaches Flatrock Gap. Here, the Appalachian Trail crosses left-to-right while the Freeman Trail drops off the ridge straight ahead. I'd be returning via the Freeman Trail but for now I'd be making a right turn onto the A.T...

Appalachian Trail

Looking uphill along the A.T. at Flatrock Gap...

Appalachian Trail

There were some impressive boulders to navigate around as I left Flatrock Gap...

Appalachian Trail

I found the woods very peaceful around here...

Appalachian Trail

The trail as is weaves through another tangle of boulders...

Appalachian Trail

Gaining elevation in a hurry now, the trail uses a series of quick switchbacks to climb...

Appalachian Trail

Things were getting noticeably rockier...

Appalachian Trail

Reaching the first in a series of open ledges that signaled I was nearing the big views...

Appalachian Trail

One of the first brief breaks in the trees provided a hazy view south to the Piedmont...

Appalachian Trail

Standing dead wood doesn't come more interesting than this...

Appalachian Trail

Bare rock underfoot foretold upcoming views...

Appalachian Trail

The forest gives way to open rock...

Appalachian Trail

Let the eye-candy begin...

Appalachian Trail

There are two main outcrops from which the best views are had on Blood Mountain. Both are located to the south of the summit proper and are separated by a short stretch of rocky trail...

Appalachian Trail

Reaching the uppermost ledges, just below the summit...

Appalachian Trail

The panorama was as spectacular as advertised. Looking west and a bit south the forested North Georgia mountains stretched away to the far horizon...

Appalachian Trail

Another shot of the view west from the uppermost ledges...

Appalachian Trail

There isn't much climbing left to do beyond the upper ledges. The trail enters the woods once again passing a couple unofficial trailside campsites...

Appalachian Trail

Climbing the last few feet to the top...

Blood Mountain Summit -- 4,461'

Arriving atop Blood Mountain...

Blood Mountain Summit -- 4,461'

The summit benchmark was easily found...

Blood Mountain Summit -- 4,461'

The summit rocks of Blood Mountain...

Blood Mountain Shelter -- 4,461'

Just beyond the summit the trail reaches the famous Blood Mountain Trail Shelter...

Blood Mountain Shelter -- 4,461'

As Appalachian Trail Shelters go this one is pretty impressive...

Blood Mountain Shelter -- 4,461'

The front room of the shelter sports a large stone chimney which, as you can see, won't be accommodating any roaring fires again any time soon...

Blood Mountain Shelter -- 4,461'

The back room...

Blood Mountain Summit -- 4,461'

Alongside the shelter is a huge rock outcrop you can scramble up to for more views. I may have been premature in my claiming the summit, these ledges certainly seemed higher than those where the benchmark was located...

Blood Mountain Summit -- 4,461'

Looking down on the shelter from the summit ledges...

Blood Mountain Summit -- 4,461'

The view from the outcrop alongside the shelter was nice but quite a bit more restricted than those I had passed earlier...

Appalachian Trail

After a quick snack it was time to continue on, downhill now for a while...

Appalachian Trail

I was very interested in finding an open view to the east so I set about searching off trail a bit to see what i could find. After a bit of scrambling I managed to find this nice opening with a perfect view of neighboring Brasstown Bald (4,783'), Georgia's highest peak...

Appalachian Trail

Making the steep winding descent from the summit...

Appalachian Trail

The rhododendrom which cloak the summit ridges soon gave way to deciduous forest as I descended...

Appalachian-Duncan Ridge Trail Junction

The Duncan Ridge Trail as it reaches the A.T. after a 4.5-mile climb from nearby Vogel State Park...

Appalachian Trail

White blazes always make me smile...

Appalachian Trail

About midway between the Duncan Ridge and Slaughter Creek Trails is a small backcountry campsite loop...

Appalachian Trail

One of the Blood Mountain backcountry campsites...

Appalachian-Slaughter Creek Trail Junction

A series of large rock steps led me down to the T-junction where the A.T. makes a sharp left turn at the Slaughter Creek Trail...